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Indian Trail Trees

Ever since the beginning of human existence trees have played an important role in the growing culture of man. Primitive man used them in various ways as means of providing him not only with food, but also with shelter, protection and warmth.

As man grew in intelligence, he found that trees could further be used as reliable landmarks, and as such they provided him with another useful instrument. He learned that by using them as guideposts he could travel from place to place without fear of becoming lost. He could also use them as means of indicating to other fellow men the locations of desirable routes of travel.

Two trail trees identified by the Mountain Stewards project. An accompanying photo indicates that the second tree is an oak. The trees tend to cluster in former Cherokee lands. Core samples from many of the identified trees date their age to the late 1700s.

This led to the development of a system whereby certain trees could be identified as definite trail markers. Primitive man noticed that trees do not heighten en masse, but that they grow from their tips. He also observed that they do not turn on an axis while growing, but that once established they maintain a fixed position.

Experiment showed him that if a young tree were bent in some unnatural position without being broken, and were fastened securely, it would continue to grow, forever after maintaining the bent position. With this as a means, it was possible to deform the trees deliberately so that they could easily be distinguished from the other trees in the forest.

There developed a custom of marking trails through the forests by bending saplings and securing them in such positions that their directions of bend indicated the directions of the routes to be followed. A line of similarly bent trees thus established a continuous uninterrupted route of travel which could readily be followed.

After being bent, the young trees were fastened by one of several methods. Sometimes the trees were weighted down with a rock, sometimes a pile of dirt was used, and often the tree was tied in position with a length of rawhide, a strip of bark, or a tough vine. The various methods used in each case were dependent largely upon the custom and ingenuity of the individual performing the work, and the materials at hand.

When America was introduced to the rest of the civilized world, this method of marking trails was in use by tribes of Indians inhabiting the forested regions of the eastern part of what was later to become the United States. In passing, the Red Man left behind him his forest trails marked by numerous curiously bent trail trees.

In marking a trail, after bending and fastening the young trees, the Indian would usually carve upon them his individual or clan insignia. Not every tree along the route of travel was bent, it being advisable to do so only at intervals. Natives were thus able to follow a pre-established trail by continuing in the direction indicated from one bent tree to the next. If the trail crossed a non-wooded area, some other system of marking had to be resorted to, such as the placing of stone pile, planting of poles, or the appropriate use of other materials. The use of living trees was, of course, the most permanent, and therefore the most desirable method.

The Mountain Stewards initiated The Trail Tree Project in 2007 to try to learn more about the history and origin of the trail trees. In the places where trail trees have been mapped, such as Sassafras Mountain in North Georgia, they seem to connect known settlements. See mountainstewards.org

Because of their longevity, many of these old Indian trail trees, now gnarled with age, may have been standing in various parts of the country, still marking the sites of former trails. Modern civic development takes it toll of these trees from time to time, and the gaps between them are becoming wider and wider.

The bending and the fastening of trees as trail markers had a definite effect upon the subsequent development of the trees. They were severely stunted, but nevertheless continued to grow. The original trunk of a tree having been bent down to the ground necessitated the establishment of one or more secondary trunks to take the place of the original one. These secondary trunks branched and bore leaves in the normal manner. They may have originated from former branches or may have issued forth as entirely new systems.

In most cases the extremities of the original bent over trunks later decayed away. Sometimes, however, the trunk tip would take root at its point of contact with the ground, and the tree would continue its development with two sets of roots.

Except that they have increased in diameter, the bent portions of these trees are still pointing in the same manner and directions as when first bent more than a hundred years ago. Occasionlly it was necessary for an Indian to place a trail sign at a place where no small tree was growing which he could conveniently bend. In such a case, the bending of the lowermost branch of a large tree was occasionally resorted to.

The question has often been asked as to whether the Indians used selection in their choice of trees—using only one kind throughout a single trail. While this may have been so in limited cases, it could not always hold true. Trees of the same species ordinarily grow in groves, and a trail extending for a long distance would pass through areas containing different types of trees. In such a case the Indian would actually be prevented from exercising selection. He would necessarily have had to use whatever kind of trees happened to be growing along the same route at the time.

Difficulty in differentiating between Indian trail trees and the ordinary crooked or deformed trees often confronts persons untrained in the observation of them. In viewing such trees, one must be able to ascertain whether their shapes are the results of accidental, intentional, or natural causes. Wind, sleet, lightning, heavy snows, or depredations by animals may cause accidental deformities in a tree.

A careful examination of the tree will disclose such a fact inasmuch as serious injuries always leave their scars. Another common cause of accidental deformities is the falling of a larger tree upon a smaller and pinning it down. When such is the case, the angle of bend is relatively long and gentle, quite unlike the abrupt angle used by the Indians. Natural causes are frequently unaccountable and result in deviating directions taken by the tree trunk while it is growing.

Some kinds of tree have greater tendencies to develop crooked stems than others, and such deviations present a different appearance than the methodical bend used by the Indians.

Indian trail trees still exist in many states throughout the Mississippi Valley and eastward. They seem to be most numerous in Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Missouri.

It is unfortunate that these old Indian landmarks are fast disappearing. The ages of many of them antedate that of our government. Only a short time longer, and the last of them will have disappeared forever from our midst, as did the Indians who bent them.

14 Responses

Great info. I came across one outside of a local Museum and the museum has it roped off with a plaque by it explaining what it is. The tree is HUGE so for sure it’s very old. How can I find out where to locate other such trees? Is there a directory anywhere? After all, these are Native American landmarks and should be treasured, once these trees dye, there are no more being created to carry on the tradition.

Great article, I have heard of these trees growing up. I also was told that Indians would use this method of marking things of value IE herbs medical plants etc
I have ,what I believe to be one of there trees on my property in Paulding Co Georgia

In Patrick County,Virginia there’s a small tract of land that’s been in our family since the mid-seventeen hundreds.

There were three white oak ‘trail trees’ along a ridge that led down to a spring that still today has wonderful tasting water and has a good flow even in times of drought. Interestingly a spring on the opposite side of the ridge has an odd and sometimes bitter taste to it.

Unfortunately the trees were logged well over twenty-five years ago. As a teenager, they always evoked a sense of wonder within me. I grieve over their loss. Some loggers don’t cut them but many obviously do.

While bow hunting, I’ve found several projectile points along the mountainside while following ancient game trails for deer.

I’ve been aware of a couple of these trees on our property for many years, never knowing what they were. My brother has investigated this and has found yet another. We are in south central Va. (Pittsylvania Co.). We will likely submit to a registry. I look forward to learning more. Thank you for your efforts here.

Hello! I have what I believe to be a Cherokee Indian marked tree in my front yard! I will post a picture tomorrow! I live in KY and the tree is on the edge of a short cliff (maybe 20 feet)The interesting thing is, the only real “landmark” of any interest, (in 2013 of course) is a pond and a creek, and a few miles past that is the Green River which is a fairly large river for this area. Maybe they were marking the way towards water? Pretty interesting!

One such tree that I cannot prove but believe because of my own research to be and old Indian Trail marker of a crooked lower limb, can be seen in Downtown Bentonville, Arkansas In the yard at 306 North Main Street. In fact It is in the front Yard of The
Victoria Bed & Breakfast which by the way is a wonderful place to stay when you visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art where the 33 million dollar “Kindred Spirits” now resides. Situated just 2 blocks north of the original 5 and 10 and the Sam Walton/Walmart Museum situated on the SW corner of the Square. The First Friday of Every month the street is blocked off and there is live music and events.

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